NCT Winter Oneshots ¦ NCT SHIPS

SEVEN

Fireplace Snuggles

Ship: Markrenhyuck
Prompt: None
Requested: Anonymous
Word Count: 1412

Today was just one of those days.

It had been quite sunny all day, as the boys ventured out of their winter cottage to go into the nearby town and explore the local area. It was quint and pretty, a small layer of snow covering everything in sight. It was picturesque, like a painting you would see in a museum. It was beautiful. It was perfect.

As they made their way back to the cottage, Donghyuck walked ahead of the older two, kicking the snow underfoot as his head hung low. Through the whole holiday, he had loved every second of it. His boyfriends constantly giving him the attention he desired so deeply and catering to every individual need. One of the benefits of having two boyfriends, DOnghyuck had found, was that he never felt lonely. Being the clingiest of the three, he always had someone to cuddle up to and receive attention from. But right now, it was the most lonely and left out he had felt since their relationship had started.

His clinginess had kicked in a while ago but the older two seemed distracted and busy, whispering behind his back about things and laughing and smiling at him. Not o him, but at him. He felt insecure and left out. He had never known a worse feeling.

Watching the younger boy walk ahead of them, Mark and Renjun laughed and chatted casually, not realising the emotions of their third party. They smiled and enjoyed the scenery, feeling the rush of Christmas start to kick in.

When they arrived back at the cottage, Mark tried to offer Hyuck a snack but the boy quickly disappeared into the bedroom, stating that he was going to have a bath before dinner. The older two shrugged it off, exchanging concerned glances to each other.

"Is he okay?" Renjun asked, not sure if Mark had noticed anything he might have missed.

"I don't know. He's been so happy and bouncy the past week and we've been so busy, maybe he's just tired and needs to relax in the bath for a while" Mark shrugged, trying not to overthink anything. The last time that had happened, he fell out with both of them.

They didn't see Hyuck again for almost two hours when they called him out for dinner. His hair was still damp and his eyes red-rimmed. Concern flooded both older boys as they watched the younger eat his food in silence.

That was the main give away that something was wrong. The silence. It was disheartening. Hyuck was very rarely quite, always babbling on about something. Even in his sleep.

"Hyuckie, are you alright? You look as though you've been crying?" Renjun asked, beginning to get uncomfortable with the silence of the table.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It just from the steam of the bath" Hyuck smiled lightly before his head dropped down to avoid their gaze's.

They continued to eat in silence, The older two becoming more and more uncomfortable as time passed.

As soon as he had finished his food, Hyuck was quick to excuse himself to the lounge where he could still see the older two. He turned the TV on to avert is attention. But then he couldn't help overhear the whispers from the two boys behind him. The hum of chatter being prioritized over the TV by his ears. He felt tears stinging in the corner of his eyes when he heard Renjun laugh briefly.

He had never felt like this before. So invisible and included. That was a good thing about always being surrounded by people. But right now, with just the three of them in this cottage, his boyfriends enjoying their discussion behind him, he felt so alone.